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, from Woods, Fields, Mountains, Rivers, Seas, and Lands; and scattering their Pensions so liberally; should yet be able to collect so few Observations, that have been judicious or useful. But the Reason is plain; for while they thought it enough, to be only Receivers of others Intelligence; they have either employ'd ignorant Searchers, who knew not how to digest or distinguish what they found; or frivolous, who always lov'd to come home laden, though it were but with Trifles; or (which is worst of all) crafty, who having perceiv'd the Humours of those that paid them so well, would always take care to bring in such Collections as might seem to agree with the Opinions and Principles of their Masters, however they did with Nature itself.

This Inconvenience the Royal Society has escap'd, by making the whole Process pass under its own Eyes. And the Task was divided amongst them, by one of these two Ways. First, it was sometimes referred to some particular Men, to make Choice of what Subject they pleased, and to follow their own Humour in the Trial; the Expence being still allow 'd from the general Stock. By which Liberty, that they afforded, they had a very necessary regard to the Power of particular Inclinations, which in all Sorts of Knowledge is so strong; that there may be numberless Instances given of Men, who in some Things have been altogether useless, and yet in others have had such a vigorous and successful Faculty, as if they had been born and form'd for them alone.

Or else secondly, the Society itself made the Distribution, and deputed whom it thought fit for the Prosecution of such or such Experiments. And this they did, either by allotting the same Work to several 2